Metal photo prints look elegant, and they’re all the rage in home decor. They offer a more modern aesthetic than canvas prints, and they can handle humid environments far better than paper products. So what are the best metal prints you can buy in 2023?
We’ve examined all the companies out there, paying careful attention to aesthetics, accessibility, and cost. Below, we share our nine favorite metal photo print options!
Best Metal Printing Companies in 2023:
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Best Metal Prints
1. Bay Photo Lab
Bay Photo is one of the most famous labs in the US, and the metal prints look incredibly professional.
Bay Photo Lab, a well-known professional printing service in Northern California, offers an assortment of high-quality metal prints.
Many customers are impressed by Bay Photo’s Single MetalPrints, which infuse dye directly into the surface. The results are beautiful, but Bay Photo doesn’t stop there; the lab also produces unique Curved MetalPrints, Creative Edge prints, and much more. If you’re after an especially modern look, you might consider purchasing a Double Float MetalPrint, which will give your photos an unprecedented amount of depth.
Bay Photo has six finishing options to choose from: High gloss, mid-gloss, satin, sheer glossy, sheer satin, and textured. Each renders photographs in its own unique way.
And if you’re rushing, don’t worry. Bay Photo Lab works fast. Production times are often as little as 2-3 business days.
If you’re on a budget, you’ll also love Bay Photo’s prices. A petite 4×4 print costs just $15.75.
That said, prices do add up fast. Bay Photo’s largest prints can easily exceed $1000, and there are added fees for mounts, frames, and specialized coatings. So just bear that in mind as you choose your perfect metal printing service!
2. Nations Photo Lab
Nations Photo Lab offers consumer ease, professional quality, and great prices.
Nations Photo Lab is an outstanding printing company that produces a great array of photographic products, including acrylic prints, paper prints, and photo pillows. Metal prints, however, are some of the company’s most-loved options.
In our view, their metal offerings are definitely worth purchasing. Ordering is a breeze that doesn’t require any excessive technical knowledge; just upload your files, select your prints, and hit the “Place Order” button! Nations offers plenty of sizes, ranging from little 4×4 prints all the way up to large 30×45 prints (with prices from $0.71 to $108).
And although the print stands are a bit difficult to use, the quality of the prints is truly superb.
3. Pictorem
None of the standard options strike your fancy? This lab lets you customize down to the inch.
Pictorem is a multifaceted printing company that offers a slew of gorgeous options.
Related Post: The Pictorem HD Metal Print Will Blow You Away
For instance, there’s the stunning Metal Aluminum Print, which is printed directly onto the metal. There’s the HD Sublimation Metal Print, which uses a dye-sublimation process to transfer your image onto aluminum. You can also opt for an Epoxy Metal Print, which protects the final product with a high-gloss resin coating.
Pictorem allows users to fully customize sizing by the inch, and every print is made with archival, museum-grade materials. UV-cured ink prevents yellowing and fading from the sun.
While you can order a metal photo print without a mount for a slight discount, back-float mounts and frame boxes can elevate the presentation. Lightweight build and built-in mounting make these prints easy to hang straight out of the box!
Pictorem has a huge range of print sizes, styling options, and prices. The largest prints can cost you around $1000, which is actually pretty fair for a metal photo print measuring around 16 square feet!
You don’t have to spend big to enjoy Pictorem’s metal print selection, though. A simple aluminum print can cost as little as $44. Plus, sales and promotions can drive prices down by as much as 40%.
4. Printique
Adorama’s own lab is capable of doing metal prints with lots of customization, and the results are truly impressive.
Printique currently only offers one type of metal print, but the quality is outstanding, and the company offers plenty of options for customization.
For instance, there’s no need to stick to standard rectangles and circles. The prints are available in a variety of different shapes, including circles, hexagons, and even hearts!
Printique metal prints are highly durable, too. In addition to the standard heat and moisture resistance, every print is dry-erasable. Printique also offers a remarkable selection of display options, such as float mounts, easel props, magnetic backing, and even acrylic “pedestals” that allow prints to stand freely on their own.
Related Post: Printique Review
A calculator will automatically give you an estimated price and turnaround time based on the shape and size of your desired print. And a virtual-room simulator provides an idea of how your room will look with a brand-new set of metal prints. You can even place orders straight from the editor!
Prices are consistently low. Small prints (5x7s) are available for just $17.99. Even the largest pieces, at 40×60, cost only $650.
5. Bumblejax
Bumblejax is something of an industry secret. The aluminum prints look incredible, and the customer service is great, too.
Bumblejax may not be the most popular company on the planet, but there’s more to this lab than meets the eye. Bumblejax is a subsidiary of (the major brand) Revolution Inc. and has been in business for a whopping 30 years! The lab’s customer base is very loyal, and many professional photographers are very careful not to reveal the company’s secrets.
The color consistency of the prints is superior to many other labs; Bumblejax essentially guarantees vibrant and genuine colors. Various metal types are available, and the customer service is also impressive.
Note, however, that the products made by Bumblejax are not what you might typically get from a metal print lab. While you do have the option to purchase prints that use the more conventional dye-sublimation process, some metal prints from this facility are produced by printing images on professional photo paper and mounting them on thick aluminum.
6. Mpix
Mpix’s metal prints come straight from a pro lab, so you get access to the company’s excellent color-correction and retouching services.
Mpix is the consumer division of the professional print lab, Miller’s – but that certainly doesn’t mean you get a drop in quality! Mpix has made itself beautifully accessible to the general public, and its metal print offerings are completely in line with Miller’s sterling reputation.
With 27 sizes to choose from, including options as large as 40×60, there is plenty for everyone! That said, Mpix doesn’t offer custom sizing, so this might frustrate consumers in need of unusual print ratios. The metal prints can be finished with a metal easel or float-mount base and are placed on an aluminum plate that is 1/16th of an inch thick. The float mounts offer some level of customization (you can choose from three different colors).
Mpix does come from a professional lab, so customers can have their images retouched or color corrected by the printing pros. And for those who do know what they’re doing, it’s simple to opt out of the color-correction service.
Mpix’s shipping is free for orders over $35, and the company tends to produce and send the prints very quickly (in fact, our tests indicate that Mpix is one of the fastest printing services in the US). It’s perfect for those too excited to wait!
7. MetalPrints.com
Metalprints.com is a straightforward printing service that offers a slew of metal options.
MetalPrints.com offers a rather large variety of metal print products, more than most of the labs on our list! It’s great for the photographer who really wants to ensure their metal prints match the style of the home.
There are conventional frame options, including inset, flush, and rear frame mounts, as well as acrylic, bamboo, and metal-easel supports. In addition, the wall-art section offers dozens of distinct styles, over 60 different sizes, and over 10 different types of wall-sized art.
An added bonus is the outdoor metal prints, which are created using high-performance EXT metal. This ensures that your print can survive the elements (such as weather and sun).
8. CanvasChamp
Canvas prints aren’t the only thing CanvasChamp can do! If you’re looking for reasonably priced metal prints, this lab is a great choice.
Although the name implies that the company only does canvas prints, CanvasChamp shouldn’t be overlooked for metal work. If you’re after a good deal, this shop offers metal prints at a fraction of the cost of many other services.
Just be aware that your metal print can originate from a country other than the USA, which means that the quality control may not be as good (simply because CanvasChamp isn’t an in-home lab with techs who check production). The company focuses on reducing costs so that it can provide excellent rates.
Related Post: CanvasChamp Review
That said, the prints tend to be rather vibrant and poppy in color, which is great for photographers whose work is full of bright hues. Be sure to order your metal prints with the frame or mount attached; otherwise, you’ll just receive a metal slab!
9. ChromaLuxe
ChromaLuxe products may be expensive, but they’re the best of the best – and perfect for photographers in need of pro-level metal prints.
ChromaLuxe is an unusual addition to this list. Technically, it isn’t a company you can order from; instead, you have to find ChromaLuxe products through distributors and third parties. But we’ve included ChromaLuxe because once you do find its products, you’ll be blown away.
ChromaLuxe sets a high bar for metal prints that are considered high-definition. These prints are tack-sharp, vibrant, and beautiful; they almost look like three-dimensional masterpieces. The inks last longer than other types of ink printed on metal, so you can rest easy knowing that your prints will not fade with time.
Pick a Metal Print Producer and Get Printing!
As you can see, there are plenty of great metal prints to choose from. Our top choice is Bay Photo Lab as it offers gorgeous-quality results and wonderful prices. Nations Photo Lab is also great and offers similarly high-quality prints.
Metal prints look amazing – especially when they’re produced by a great online printing company. So choose a photo, select a printer, and within a few weeks, you should have your new metal print hanging on the wall!
You have an error in your information about metal printing companies. You list Nations Photo lab as an organization that can make custom prints printed on metal (aluminum). Upon looking at the website they use to offer metal paper prints using a Kodak paper. They mention this Kodak product has been discontinued and now suggest a pearl paper product instead. No metal products are shown on their website. You need to remove this site from your article about metal printing sites.
you gotta check the wall art section bruh
Couple things stand out. CanvasChamp does not print on chromaluxe, so they shouldnt be an option for metal prints. I tested them, and they are very poor quality.
BayPhoto owns MetalPrints.com, BayPhoto was bought out by circle one graphics and there quality and support has gown downhill ever since.
The highest quality you can find for metal prints will be Shiny Prints being the absolute best, followed by pure art printer, and then blazing, but blazing will only work with professionals and they are super expensive and have very long turn around times.
Unique imaging concepts is also very very good, but their website isnt user friendly for ordering.
Been doing this for 12 years now and ordered from all options.
Missing from this list (probably because they don’t do customized prints) is Displate. They do licensed prints, limited edition and ultra limited prints. Another one missing for probably the same reason is Artstation HD metal prints, not as nice as the limited Displates, but still good. Definitely worth a look if you’re into things on the more collectible side…especially the Displate limited, ultra limited and Lumino’s (which have LED lighting effects embedded)